Hi everyone! I have a 98 Legacy AWD with 45K. She has a loud noise when I reach 60 mph. It's not a grind, more like something vibrating in wind so to say, but it is very noticable. If I let off or press down more on the gas the noise with go away for a few seconds then re-occur. It hasn't affected the performance (yet) but I'm concerned about continued driving like this. I've been under the car and cannot find anything loose (exhaust, underbody, trans, etc) Any ideas you folks have would be appreciated.

 

thanks again!

Hi everyone! I have a 98 Legacy AWD with 45K. She has a loud noise when I reach 60 mph. It's not a grind, more like something vibrating in wind so to say, but it is very noticable. If I let off or press down more on the gas the noise with go away for a few seconds then re-occur. It hasn't affected the performance (yet) but I'm concerned about continued driving like this. I've been under the car and cannot find anything loose (exhaust, underbody, trans, etc) Any ideas you folks have would be appreciated.

 

thanks again!

 

If you can reach far enough under the car, check the drive shaft. That's probably a long shot since the car only has 45k, but it's worth a check. There are 2 or 3 universal joints in the drive shaft. If you can reach them, make sure there isn't any give.

Hi everyone! I have a 98 Legacy AWD with 45K. She has a loud noise when I reach 60 mph. It's not a grind, more like something vibrating in wind so to say, but it is very noticable. If I let off or press down more on the gas the noise with go away for a few seconds then re-occur. It hasn't affected the performance (yet) but I'm concerned about continued driving like this. I've been under the car and cannot find anything loose (exhaust, underbody, trans, etc) Any ideas you folks have would be appreciated.

 

thanks again!

Although you stated you have checked the exhaust, I would tend to think that a specific vibration ("something vibrating in the wind") could be a heat shield or some other of the exhaust system sections.... have your wheels rebalanced too. if it occurs at specific speeds the vibration from the wheel (s) could cause other sheet metal parts to vibrate...

Later,

Peter

Although you stated you have checked the exhaust, I would tend to think that a specific vibration ("something vibrating in the wind") could be a heat shield or some other of the exhaust system sections.... have your wheels rebalanced too. if it occurs at specific speeds the vibration from the wheel (s) could cause other sheet metal parts to vibrate...

Later,

Peter

 

I vote for a vibrating heat shield as well.

My car did that when the air box bolts where loose...it sucks a lot of air under acceleration...so that box vibrates a lot.

 

Heatshilds could be it, too...i've learned to live with mine making noise.

My car did that when the air box bolts where loose...it sucks a lot of air under acceleration...so that box vibrates a lot.

 

Heatshilds could be it, too...i've learned to live with mine making noise.

 

Matt,

 

thanks for the reply, someone snapped off the bolt in one of my airbox mounting holes. So my box does wobble a bit... didn't think that much of it. I going to pursue it though. I'd be surprised if that much noise could be due to the box.

Here are some ideas...

 

- Big plastic "skid plate" which covers the oil-pan. On my Forester I run tie-wraps through the corners near the wheels since somebody probably lost the bolts a few dozen oil changes ago.

- the seals on the front of the windows. On our Outback you have to pinch this closed occasionally (while window is down) otherwise it starts to make air-noise approaching highway speeds.

My '97 outback had a loose heat shield right near the engine. A hose clamp stopped the rattle.